405.01    When Permitted and By Whom

A party may only serve written interrogatories on any other party during the discovery period if the serving party previously served or concurrently serves therewith its initial disclosures, absent a stipulation or a granted motion, or upon order of the Board to the contrary. [ Note 1.] See TBMP § 403.02. Interrogatories must be served early enough in the discovery period, as originally set or as may have been reset by the Board, so that responses will be due no later than the close of discovery. [ Note 2.] TBMP § 403.02. Interrogatories may not be served on a non-party. [ Note 3.]

NOTES:

 1.   37 C.F.R. § 2.120(a)(3).

 2.   37 C.F.R. § 2.120(a)(3). See also Estudi Moline Dissey, S.L. v. BioUrn Inc., 123 USPQ2d 1268, 1270 (TTAB 2017) (discovery must be served "early enough … so that responses will be due no later than the close of discovery"); MISCELLANEOUS CHANGES TO TRADEMARK TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD RULES OF PRACTICE, 81 Fed. Reg. 69950, 69962 (October 7, 2016).

2. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 33; 37 C.F.R. § 2.120(d).